No surprise for a recent European Capital of Culture (2008), Liverpool has more museums and art galleries than any other city in the country. Situated at Albert Dock, amongst the largest group of Grade I listed buildings in Britain, is Tate Liverpool one of the family of four galleries which makes up Tate.
A well recognised public institution, and one of the UK’s most prestigious, its stated mission is to increase public knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of British modern and contemporary art through both the collection and an inspiring programme in and beyond its galleries.
Since first opening its doors in 1988, Tate Liverpool has presented over 150 different exhibitions and displays of work by innumerable artists, some being seen for the first time in the UK.
Tate Liverpool plays a significant part in the cultural life of the city and continues to showcase work as part of “the Biennial” – the acclaimed exhibition showing new works by international artists commissioned specially for Liverpool. It collaborates with a range of educational and cultural partners to ensure the Gallery remains innovative and influential in the presentation of its collection and to encourage a younger audience through its active education programme.
May 2010 saw the opening of Picasso: Peace and Freedom – a major exhibition bringing together over 150 works by Picasso from across the world. Promoted as “a fascinating new insight into the artist’s life as a tireless political activist and campaigner for peace, challenging the widely held view of Picasso as creative genius, playboy and compulsive extrovert”, this was the first exhibition to examine in depth the artist’s engagement with politics and the Peace Movement.
